Outside air pollutants can be hazardous to your health. However, indoor air pollutants may impact your health more adversely because you typically spend more time inside your home.
What Pollutes Indoor Air
Common indoor air pollutants include mold, mildew, and secondhand. Lead paint dust and asbestos fibers also make the list. Formaldehyde used in manufacturing furniture and cleaning products that give off volatile organic compounds or VOCs pollute indoor air. Radon that occurs naturally in rocks and soil can enter the home through crawl spaces and basements. Combustion fuels such as coal, natural gas, and wood can contribute to poor indoor air quality by releasing harmful gases and carbon monoxide into the air.
How This Impacts Health
Dust mites, mold, pet dander, volatile organic compound, and formaldehyde can irritate the airways and trigger asthma attacks. Exposure to dust from lead paint can affect brain development in children. Asbestos, radon, and second-hand smoke are all cancer-causing agents. Combustion fuels give off carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. These pollutants work together to cause your indoor air quality to affect your health adversely.
Addressing Indoor Air Quality
Find and repair moisture problems that cause mold and mildew. To release VOCs from your home, ventilate areas where new carpet or furniture is installed. Make sure there is adequate ventilation when using household chemicals. Avoid smoking inside the home. If the paint in your home was present before the late seventies, consult a lead-safe certified HVAC contractor before disturbing lead paint. Place a radon detector in your home and seek professional help with mitigation if needed. If you plan to remodel an older home, leave the removal of asbestos to professionals. If you have combustion heat, make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector to warn you if the carbon monoxide level in your home gets too high. Heating systems that rely on combustion fuels need to be evaluated for efficiency.
Get Professional Help
Are you dealing with indoor air pollutants? The professionals at 4 Seasons Heating & Air can evaluate your Atlanta or Alpharetta area home to determine if a more efficient heating, air, or ventilation system might help. For more information, call us today to learn about the services we provide!
